June 1, 2005: It seems like the mid-term tests (a combination of written and practical exams) marked the end of most of the learning phase of the course. Chefs argued that this is by design; that students can only deal with so much stress for so long, and that we've obtained the skills we needed and now concentrate on applying them individually and in combination. I understand where they're coming from -- I just don't agree with it.

But that's the way it is. We're headed toward the "wind-down" and the various tests that will show what we have learned -- or haven't. I suffer from "test anxiety" -- it makes me clam up and my brain just goes offline.